Reflecting on what WE can do, right now. Some thoughts.
There is a divide in voting patterns along lines of college eductated vs those with less eduction. Now is the time for all of us to influece the availability of educational opportunities by lobbying our legislators and those involved in administration of colleges and trade schools.…
Reflecting on what WE can do, right now. Some thoughts.
There is a divide in voting patterns along lines of college eductated vs those with less eduction. Now is the time for all of us to influece the availability of educational opportunities by lobbying our legislators and those involved in administration of colleges and trade schools. America need to build educational infrastructure to guard against a gullible population that is unable to see through propaganda. Also, America needs to educate tens of thousands of people who will fill the new jobs involved in our current and future low carbon economy. Here is Vermont, the biggest road block to adding solar installation and batteries for example, is the lack of an adequately trained work force.
I agree - seems like the past 10 years (maybe longer) with tech industries growing - schools and education have pushed for young people to be trained for jobs in those industries, and always, always, push for them to go to college, and no thought put towards, for instance, who's going to repair our infrastructure, or our plumbing, electrical, repair/maintenance problems if noone knows how! The trade schools are NOT a step down from tech, wall street, or other "office" jobs - anyone who is talented enough and interested enough to do this necessary work should have the education needed just as any other job opportunity. Having a college degree does not necessarily mean you have a job or that you are prepared for one, in every case.
I totally agree. I just retired early as a middle school teacher, and many teachers have felt that our educational system has, in their attempt to be the best academically, forgotten that not every child is going to be college-bound. When I first started teaching 33 years ago, we had classes that helped teach kids about the trades as well as academic courses, but over time, it became all about collecting data and testing and pushing everyone to go to college. Not everyone learns in the same way nor at the same pace, and yet they were all expected to meet the same standards at the same time or be called At Risk. I had pressed our district for years, and finally just gave up, to create classes based on skill rather than age to help kids who need more time to get it and for those who are excelling in a skill to be challenged. If I excel in reading and writing but need help in math, why should my age put me in a class I am already destined to fail because it is far above my skill level? Likewise, if I am excelling at a skill, why should I be in a class because of the age I am that will bore me to tears? Everyone should be challenged within their own skill level to grow and progress forward in whatever direction they wish to go. Why should a college degree be more valued than someone who has decided to be a rancher or farmer, or trained and passed their certifications to be a mechanic or a carpenter or a hairstylist or the other jobs that are the backbone of our country?
ABSOLUTELY! Another thing that really bugs me is the way beginning math (dont know about upper classes-grandchildren are young) is now being "taught". At least here in NYS. It isnt good enough to get a correct answer - they have to "prove" it in this convoluted way in order for it to count as correct! There doesnt seem to be anything close to a "times table" (remember that?) I mean that made figuring in your head simple. And I wasnt great shakes at math. I agree with all you said above.
Replying to this post plus another reply by Maggie. Yes, the country needs a proper education system (I've spent my life teaching in a very selective college, but...) that prepares people for all manner of careers. A friend has a grandchild who (for good reasons) couldn't make it in college, but is now flourishing as an electrician with increasing responsibilities in the business. There are many many good and necessary careers that need people with intricate skills. Germany realizes this with their various technical schools. Fetishizing a college degree (which in some schools is not quite that....) is not the way forward. Excellent education in various fields/vocations is the way forward. Why can't we get that as a country?????
I lived off grid for 15 years, companies like Google hire all the good electrician in the area where they choose to operate. We don't have the will in this country to fight big oil, big pharma or the GOP and Mitch McConnell. We better find a way and fast to the wishy washy way that Americans look at the demise of future generation, because that's where we are at no matter how many people stick their head in the sand and refuse to acknowledge it. We got Trump out how about we keep fighting for ourselves and the rest of the world.
Reflecting on what WE can do, right now. Some thoughts.
There is a divide in voting patterns along lines of college eductated vs those with less eduction. Now is the time for all of us to influece the availability of educational opportunities by lobbying our legislators and those involved in administration of colleges and trade schools. America need to build educational infrastructure to guard against a gullible population that is unable to see through propaganda. Also, America needs to educate tens of thousands of people who will fill the new jobs involved in our current and future low carbon economy. Here is Vermont, the biggest road block to adding solar installation and batteries for example, is the lack of an adequately trained work force.
I agree - seems like the past 10 years (maybe longer) with tech industries growing - schools and education have pushed for young people to be trained for jobs in those industries, and always, always, push for them to go to college, and no thought put towards, for instance, who's going to repair our infrastructure, or our plumbing, electrical, repair/maintenance problems if noone knows how! The trade schools are NOT a step down from tech, wall street, or other "office" jobs - anyone who is talented enough and interested enough to do this necessary work should have the education needed just as any other job opportunity. Having a college degree does not necessarily mean you have a job or that you are prepared for one, in every case.
I totally agree. I just retired early as a middle school teacher, and many teachers have felt that our educational system has, in their attempt to be the best academically, forgotten that not every child is going to be college-bound. When I first started teaching 33 years ago, we had classes that helped teach kids about the trades as well as academic courses, but over time, it became all about collecting data and testing and pushing everyone to go to college. Not everyone learns in the same way nor at the same pace, and yet they were all expected to meet the same standards at the same time or be called At Risk. I had pressed our district for years, and finally just gave up, to create classes based on skill rather than age to help kids who need more time to get it and for those who are excelling in a skill to be challenged. If I excel in reading and writing but need help in math, why should my age put me in a class I am already destined to fail because it is far above my skill level? Likewise, if I am excelling at a skill, why should I be in a class because of the age I am that will bore me to tears? Everyone should be challenged within their own skill level to grow and progress forward in whatever direction they wish to go. Why should a college degree be more valued than someone who has decided to be a rancher or farmer, or trained and passed their certifications to be a mechanic or a carpenter or a hairstylist or the other jobs that are the backbone of our country?
ABSOLUTELY! Another thing that really bugs me is the way beginning math (dont know about upper classes-grandchildren are young) is now being "taught". At least here in NYS. It isnt good enough to get a correct answer - they have to "prove" it in this convoluted way in order for it to count as correct! There doesnt seem to be anything close to a "times table" (remember that?) I mean that made figuring in your head simple. And I wasnt great shakes at math. I agree with all you said above.
Hear! Hear!
Replying to this post plus another reply by Maggie. Yes, the country needs a proper education system (I've spent my life teaching in a very selective college, but...) that prepares people for all manner of careers. A friend has a grandchild who (for good reasons) couldn't make it in college, but is now flourishing as an electrician with increasing responsibilities in the business. There are many many good and necessary careers that need people with intricate skills. Germany realizes this with their various technical schools. Fetishizing a college degree (which in some schools is not quite that....) is not the way forward. Excellent education in various fields/vocations is the way forward. Why can't we get that as a country?????
In India, the Barefoot College teaches grandmothers to be solar engineers.
https://www.ted.com/talks/bunker_roy_learning_from_a_barefoot_movement?language=en
I lived off grid for 15 years, companies like Google hire all the good electrician in the area where they choose to operate. We don't have the will in this country to fight big oil, big pharma or the GOP and Mitch McConnell. We better find a way and fast to the wishy washy way that Americans look at the demise of future generation, because that's where we are at no matter how many people stick their head in the sand and refuse to acknowledge it. We got Trump out how about we keep fighting for ourselves and the rest of the world.